Thigh-artificial-limb control



Oct. 12 1926. 1,602,928

R. F. O'NEIL THIGH ARTIFICIAL LIMB CONTROL File ar 7, 1922 2Sheets-Shoot 1 Oct. 12 1926. 1,602,928

R. F. ONEIL THIGH ARTIFICIAL LIMB CONTROL- Filed March '2, 1922 2sheets-sheet 2 Zi Z71? EC Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THIGH-ARTIFICIAL-LIMB CONTROL.

Application filed. March 7, 1922.

This invention relates to artificial limbs, more particularly to legs,and the securing thereof to the wearer.

This invention may be best understood from a study of the accompanyingtwo sheets of drawings, and the subjoined description thereof, takentogether with the claims at the end hereof.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawmg Figure 1 is a front view of anindividual who has lost the left leg, showing the stump of the thigh,and my invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the same.

Figure 3 is a front view, showing the thigh socket and fastening meansof the artificial limb, the lower part and foot of the limb beingomitted.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the shoulder harness.

In these several figures The body of the wearer, 1, is shown in Figures1 and 2, the stump of the left thigh being shown in dotted lines at 2 inthose figures. At 3 is the socket for the stump 2, which receives andembraces the stump, and alines the artificial limb therewith. At 4 is asling, which may be of cord. This cord is permanently attached in frontof the wearer, to a ring 5, as at 6, and passes thence over a pulley 7,upon the outer side, thence across behind the socket 3, through a loop8, to be presently described, thence downward to a pulley 9 on theinnerside of the thigh piece, and thence again to ring 5, to which it isattached by an adjustable fastening, as a buckle 10. From the pulley 7and 9, either by direct or intermediate connection, depends a sling 11,which may be constructed of cord, and on which rides a pulley 12. Thesling cord 11 extends through perforations 13 in the thigh socket, 3, sothat pulley 12 may be in, about, alignment with the knee bolt 14, towhich it is connected by means of an arm or lever 15, and an adjustablefastening 16, such as a strap and buckle, as shown in Figure 3. The arm15 is secured to, the knee-bolt 14, by a set screw 17 and its stirrup 18engages the bight of strap 16.

The lower limb and its connections 19 are secured on knee-bolt 14, thusthe lower limb Serial No. 541,844.

and the lever 15 move together, and need no further description.

The loop 8, already mentioned, is adjustably attached, as by a buckle20, to a shoulder strap 21, which passes over the shoulder of the weareropposite to the side on which is the artificial limb. The shoulder-strap21, after passing over the wearers shoulder 22, is connected,indirectly, to ring 5, as by an extension piece 23, and a buckle 24, orother form of adjustment. A snap-hook 25 may be interpolated betweenextension 23 and ring 5 if desired.

To the shoulder strap 21 is connected a back brace 26 whose function isto hold the shoulder strap in alignment with the leg or thigh socket.The brace 26 is attached, at one end, to a hip-strap 27, which alsoserves to hold the harness in place.

Having thus described my invention, and an embodiment of it, in thefull, clear and exact terms required by law, and knowing that itcomprises novel, useful and valuable improvements in the art to which itpertains, I here state that I do not wish to be limited to the preciseconstruction and arrangement of the several parts, as herein set forth,as the same may be variously modified by a skilled mechanic withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in theappended claims.

I/Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is the following, to wit 1. An artificial limb, comprising incombination, a thigh socket and a lower leg, means to support said partsin proper alignment, consisting of a sling having one end fixed upon oneside of said thigh socket and a free end on the opposite side, a secondsling passing through a pulley secured to said thigh socket and a secondpulley secured to the free end of said first sling, a single shoulderstrap having adjustable means at one end engaging one side of saidsecond sling and at the opposite end a loop engaging the opposite sideof said second sling, a kneebolt secured across said thigh socket andlower leg and an adjustable strap connecting said first sling to saidknee-bolt adapted to support said lower leg in position.

2. An artificial limb having in combination, a thigh socket, a slingadapted to support said thigh socket by connections at the sidesthereof, a single shoulder-strap adjustably connected at one end to thefront side of said sling and the opposite end of said shoulder-strap tothe rear side of said sling, a hip-strap connected to the front and backof said shoulder-strap, and a brace secured at one end to the back ofsaid shoulder-strap and at its opposite end to said hip-strap, sari dhip-strap and brace adapted to hold said shoulder-strap in alignmentWith the leg.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereto set my hand this27 day of Feb, 1922.

REUBEN FRANCIS ONEIL.

